Solved on Mar 06, 2024

Simplify the expression: tan(π2x)secx\tan \left(\frac{\pi}{2}-x\right) \sec x

STEP 1

Assumptions
1. The trigonometric identity for tangent of the difference of two angles is tan(AB)=tanAtanB1+tanAtanB\tan(A - B) = \frac{\tan A - \tan B}{1 + \tan A \tan B}.
2. The specific trigonometric identities for tan(π2)\tan \left(\frac{\pi}{2}\right) and tanx\tan x will be used.
3. The trigonometric identity for secx\sec x is the reciprocal of cosx\cos x, which means secx=1cosx\sec x = \frac{1}{\cos x}.
4. The relationship between the trigonometric functions of complementary angles will be used, specifically that tan(π2x)=cotx\tan \left(\frac{\pi}{2} - x\right) = \cot x.

STEP 2

Apply the identity for the tangent of the difference of two angles to the expression tan(π2x)\tan \left(\frac{\pi}{2}-x\right).
tan(π2x)=tan(π2)tanx1+tan(π2)tanx\tan \left(\frac{\pi}{2}-x\right) = \frac{\tan \left(\frac{\pi}{2}\right) - \tan x}{1 + \tan \left(\frac{\pi}{2}\right) \tan x}

STEP 3

Recognize that tan(π2)\tan \left(\frac{\pi}{2}\right) is undefined because the tangent function approaches infinity as its argument approaches π2\frac{\pi}{2} from the left. However, in the context of the given expression, we are interested in the behavior of the tangent function as it relates to the cotangent function, which is defined as cotx=1tanx\cot x = \frac{1}{\tan x}.

STEP 4

Use the relationship between the tangent and cotangent functions for complementary angles.
tan(π2x)=cotx\tan \left(\frac{\pi}{2}-x\right) = \cot x

STEP 5

Since cotx=1tanx\cot x = \frac{1}{\tan x}, we can rewrite the expression as:
tan(π2x)=1tanx\tan \left(\frac{\pi}{2}-x\right) = \frac{1}{\tan x}

STEP 6

Now, we multiply the expression tan(π2x)\tan \left(\frac{\pi}{2}-x\right) by secx\sec x.
tan(π2x)secx=1tanxsecx\tan \left(\frac{\pi}{2}-x\right) \sec x = \frac{1}{\tan x} \sec x

STEP 7

Substitute the identity for secx\sec x as the reciprocal of cosx\cos x.
1tanxsecx=1tanx1cosx\frac{1}{\tan x} \sec x = \frac{1}{\tan x} \cdot \frac{1}{\cos x}

STEP 8

Recognize that tanx=sinxcosx\tan x = \frac{\sin x}{\cos x} and rewrite the expression in terms of sine and cosine.
1tanx1cosx=1sinxcosx1cosx\frac{1}{\tan x} \cdot \frac{1}{\cos x} = \frac{1}{\frac{\sin x}{\cos x}} \cdot \frac{1}{\cos x}

STEP 9

Simplify the expression by multiplying the denominators.
1sinxcosx1cosx=cosxsinx1cosx\frac{1}{\frac{\sin x}{\cos x}} \cdot \frac{1}{\cos x} = \frac{\cos x}{\sin x} \cdot \frac{1}{\cos x}

STEP 10

Cancel out the common factor of cosx\cos x in the numerator and denominator.
cosxsinx1cosx=1sinx\frac{\cos x}{\sin x} \cdot \frac{1}{\cos x} = \frac{1}{\sin x}

STEP 11

Recognize that 1sinx\frac{1}{\sin x} is the definition of cscx\csc x.
1sinx=cscx\frac{1}{\sin x} = \csc x

STEP 12

Conclude the simplification of the original expression.
tan(π2x)secx=cscx\tan \left(\frac{\pi}{2}-x\right) \sec x = \csc x
The simplified expression is cscx\csc x.

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